TasmanKB extended tour – New Zealand

8 November 2018

In addition to the Natbuild Conference, 24 delegates from our members took part in a two-day extension hosted by one of our premium partners, TasmanKB, to gain valuable insight into the timber industry of New Zealand.

The tour started with a visit to Auckland’s TruPine Henderson Plant, now part of the Claymark Group, before heading to Rotorua for a lunch hosted by Red Stag, where delegates were treated with the rare opportunity to taste some of New Zealand’s finest produce cooked right on the edge of a forest.

A guided tour of Red Stag’s impressive saw mill saw the group taken through each process from logging to finished product. Red Stag’s state of the art facilities are world class and the opportunity to have this as a first experience was one of the many highlights.

A visit to the Redwood’s Treewalk was a highlight with the group walking along a maze of suspended bridges at dusk.

The next day included a guided tour of the Claymark Sawmill in Rotarua, one of the cleanest manufacturing facilities many have had the opportunity to experience. When it comes to delivering a quality product to the consistent standards they achieve, the Claymark Owners and Management demonstrate they are not prepared to compromise in any way.

Afterwards the group headed to Te Puia for a cultural show, hangi buffet lunch and tour of the geysers, mudpools, and wood and jade carving workshops.

Dinner at the Stratosfare Restaurant wrapped up this thoroughly enjoyable tour in style, providing incredible views of Rotorua and the surrounding area.

Thanks to our hosts Shane Hicks and Phil Irving from TasmanKB and Bruce Barclay from Claymark who accompanied us throughout the tour.